Automatic microbial transfer device

ABSTRACT

An apparatus is disclosed for automatically transferring a predetermined amount of inoculated culture from a first container into a second container having a sterile culture therein. The containers rest on the top of a pivoted support surface. A horizontally disposed conduit connects the pair of containers. The support surface is pivoted from its normal horizontal position by a solenoid which is activated under the control of an electrical timer. The solenoid is connected to a catch which may be disposed in two positions. When the solenoid is inactive, the catch is connected to the first end of the support surface to hold the same in its normal horizontal position. When the solenoid is activated, the catch releases the support surface into a freely pivoting state. Upon release of the catch from the support surface, a weight disposed on the second end of the support surface tips the support surface from its normal horizontal position causing the predetermined volume of inoculated culture to flow from the first container through the horizontally disposed conduit and into the second container having sterile culture therein.

United States Patent Wilkins et al.

[ May 20, 1975 AUTOMATIC MICROBIAL TRANSFER DEVICE [75] Inventors: Judd R. Wilkins; Stacey M. Mills,

both of Hampton, Va.

[73] Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Office of General Counsel-Code GP, Washington, DC.

[22] Filed: Oct. 26, 1973 [2]] Appl. No.: 409,990

[52] US. Cl. 195/127; 195/141; 195/120;

195/ 103.5 R [51] Int. Cl C12b 1/02 [58] Field of Search 195/139, 143, 120, 141, 195/142, 127

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS l,834,536 12/1931 Schaut 195/139 [57] ABSTRACT An apparatus is disclosed for automatically transferring a predetermined amount of inoculated culture from a first container into a second container having a sterile culture therein. The containers rest on the top of a pivoted support surface. A horizontally disposed conduit connects the pair of containers. The support surface is pivoted from its normal horizontal position by a solenoid which is activated under the control of an electrical timer. The solenoid is connected to a catch which may be disposed in two positions. When the solenoid is inactive, the catch is connected to the first end of the support surface to hold the same in its normal horizontal position. When the solenoid is activated, the catch releases the support surface into a freely pivoting state. Upon release of the catch from the support surface, a weight disposed on the second end of the support surface tips the support surface from its normal horizontal position causing the predetermined volume of inoculated culture to flow from the first container through the horizontally disposed conduit and into the second container having sterile culture therein.

6 Claims, 1 Drawing Figure POWER SUPPLY TIMER ll f l mini.-

POWER SUPPLY TIMER W Mm,

1 AUTOMATIC MICROBIAL TRANSFER DEVICE ORIGIN OF THE INVENTION The invention described herein was made by employees of the US. Government and may be manufactured and used by or for the Government for governmental purposes without the payment of any royalties thereof or therefor.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION:

1. Field of the Invention The invention relates to an apparatus for automatically transferring a predetermined amount of inoculated culture from a first container into a second container having a sterile culture therein. The instant invention may alsobe used to study the effect of metabolites or inhibitory agents on cultures by automatically transferring these agents to cultures of bacteria in various stages of growth. Finally, the instant invention may be used for the automatic transfer of other types of microorganisms such as yeast and other fungi into sterile culture mediums from other containers.

2. Description of the Prior Art Brett (U.S. Pat. No. 3,221,878) discloses a parabiotic chamber for culture studies. The Brett apparatus comprises a pair of horizontally disposed vessels having a dialysis membrane separating the respective chambers and plugs closing the other end of each of the chambers.

Schaut (U.S. Pat. No. 1,834,536) discloses a fermentation device having a dome-shaped reservoir connected to a normally vertical gas collection tube via a flattened conduit having an oblong cross section.

The Brett and Schaut apparatus differ substantially from the instant invention in that neither includemeans for automatically transferring cultures from one container to another by pivoting a horizontal support surface having the containers disposed thereon upon the occurrence of a predetermined condition, the condition occurring when an electrical timer activates a solenoid which is mechanically coupled to a catch that holds the support surface in a horizontalposition when SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The disadvantages and limitations of the prior art are solved by the instant invention, which provides a simple device for automatically transferring, under sterile conditions, a predetermined volume of culture from one container to another. I

The primary advantages of having an automatic transferring device are the elimination of an operator for manually performing the task of transfer and the limitation of operator time to only the setting of the electrical timer which controls the automatic operation of the instant invention.

The invention may be summarized as follows. A pivoted surface is provided for supporting a pair of containers thereon, one container having a sterile culture disposed therein and the other container having an incause of the effect of gravitational force on a weight which is disposed at the second end of the support surface. Pivoting of the support surface from the horizontal causes a predetermined volume of the inoculated culture to flow through a horizontally disposed conduit connecting the two containers and into the container having the sterile culture disposed therein as the weight slips off of the support surface. After the weight'has slipped from the support surface, a'spring connected to the support surface and to an upright member causes the support surface to return to its normal horizontal position. A stop attached to the upright member pr'events the spring from causing the support surface to return past a horizontal position. I

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE SPECIFICATION Referring to the FIGURE, numeral IO'designates an automatic microbial transfer device constructed according to the instant invention. A pair of containers 12 and 14 (usually test tubes) are connected together by a horizontally disposed conduit 16. The lowestvertical position of the inside surface of conduit 16 is chosen to be just above the level of inoculated culture present in container 12. Near the bottom of containers l2 and 14, a horizontal support bar 18 is connected therebetween to add structural rigidity. At the top of containers l2 and 14 respectively stoppers 20 and 22 are provided for preventing the introduction of foreign micro-organisms into the cultures disposed in containers 1 2 and 14. Containers l2 and 14 rest on a pivoted support surface 24 which may have suitable indents for receiving the bottoms of containers 12 and 14 to prevent their displacement ori the support surface 24. The support surface 24 has a. pivot 26 extending across the width thereof. An electrical timer 28 is connected to power supply 29 through lead wires 30 and 30A is used to automatically activate solenoid 32. Solenoid 32 has a horizontally extending arm 34 which is attached to catch 38 by means of pin 36. The catch 38 has two possible positions, the first position being when the solenoid 32 is not activated by electrical timer 28 (as shown in the drawings) and the second position being when the solenoid 32 is activated by electrical timer 28. The top portion of catch 38 fits into a channel 40 cut into the first end of support surface 24. The bottom portion of catch 38 fits into an indent 42 which functions as the pivot point of the catch when solenoid 32 is activated. Upon activation of solenoid 32 by electrical timer 28, horizontally extending arm 34 moves to the right causing catch 38 to pivot about indent 42 thereby causing the upper end of catch 40 to slide through channel 40 and free from support surface 24. A weight 44 is provided at the second end of support surface 24. Weight 44, under the influence of gravitational force, causes support surface 24 to pivot from the horizontal. As support surface 24 pivots toward the vertical, weight 44 slips therefrom. Then, spring 46, which is attached to support surface 24 and upright member 48, pulls the support surface 24 back into a horizontal position. Stop 50 prevents spring 46 from causing support surface 24 to return past a horizontal position.

The placement of weight 44 and spring 46 with respect to support surface 24 insures that support surface 24 takes a relatively constant amount of time to complete its pivoting cycle. Because of this relatively constant cycle time, a predetermined amount of inoculated culture flows from container 12 via conduit 16 into container 14 each time catch 38 frees support surface 24 to pivot from the horizontal.

The timer 28, solenoid 32, catch 38, weight 44 and spring 46 comprise a means mechanically coupled to support surface24 for automatically tipping the sup- :port surface 24 from its normal horizontal position.

Whilethis is the preferred construction of the apparatus for automatically tipping support surface 24, it should be apparent'to those skilled in the art that other equivalent mechanisms may be used with equal facility.

It is to be un derstood that numerous modifications may be m'ade to the instant invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the instant invention. It is therefore to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described herein.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In an apparatus for automatically tranferring a predetermined volume of inoculated culture from a first container into a second container having a sterile culture therein. comprising in combination:

a pivoted support surface having a top side and first and second ends, said surface being normally horizontally disposed;

first and second containers, said containers being disposed on said top side of said support surface;

a horizontally disposed conduit connected between said first and second containers for permitting flow of said inoculated culture from said first container through said conduit into said second container upon pivoting of said support surface from the horizontal; and

pivoting means mechanically coupled to said support surface for automatically pivoting said support surface from its normal horizontal positon upon occurrence of a predetermined condition.

2. In an apparatus for automatically transferring a predetermined volume of inoculated culture into a sterile culture as recited in claim 1 wherein said pivoting means comprises:

an electrical timer;

a solenoid electrically coupled to said timer;

a catch mechanically coupled to said solenoid, said catch being movable from a first to a second position, said first position being when said solenoid is not activated by said electrical timer and said second position being when said solenoid is activated by said electrical timer;

said first end of said support surface being coupled to said catch when said catch is in said first position;

said support surface being freely pivotable from its normal horizontal position when said catch is in said second position; and

a weight disposed on said second end of said support surface, said weight being of sufficientjmass to cause pivoting of said support surface from its normal horizontal position upon positioning of said catch in said second position by said solenoid.

3. In an apparatus for automatically transferring a predetermined volume of inoculated culture into a sterile culture as recited in claim 2 further comprising:

a pivot disposed in close proximity to the center of said pivoted support surface and extending across the width thereof; and

a vertically extending spring, having two ends, said spring at one end being attached to said second end of said pivoted support surface and at the other end to an upright member, whereby upon pivoting of said support surface from the horizontal said weight slides off of said support surface causing said spring to return said support surface back to its normal horizontal position.

4. In an apparatus for automatically transferring a predetermined volume of inoculated culture into a sterile culture as recited in claim 3 wherein the level of said inoculated culture in said first container is just below the lowest vertical point on the inside surface of said horizontally disposed conduit.

5. In an apparatus for automatically transferring a predetermined volume of inoculated culture into a sterile culture as recited in claim 3 further comprising a stop disposed on said upright member for preventing said pivoted support surface from pivoting past a horizontal position upon displacement of said weight from said support surface.

6. In an apparatus for automatically transferring a predetermined volume of inoculated culture into a sterile culture as recited in claim 2 comprising a horizontally disposed support rod connected between said first and second containers, said connection being below the vertical position of said horizontal conduit. 

1. IN AN APPARATUS FOR AUTOMATICALLY TRANFERRING A PREDETERMINED VOLUME OF INOCULATED CULTURE FROM A FIRST CONTAINER INTO A SECOND CONTAINER HAVING A STERILE CULTURE THEREIN COMPRISING IN COMBINATION: A PIVOTED SUPPORT SURFACE HAVING A TOP SIDE AND FIRST AND SECOND ENDS, SAID SURFACE BEING NORMALLY HORIZONTALLY DISPOSED; FIRST AND SECOND CONTAINERS, SAID CONTAINERS BEING DISPOSED ON SAID TOP SIDE OF SAID SUPPORT SURFACE; A HORIZONTALLY DISPOSED CONDUIT CONNECTED BETWEEN SAID FIRST AND SECOND CONTAINERS FOR PERMITTING FLOW OF SAID INOCULATED CULTURE FROM SAID FIRST CONTAINER THROUGH SAID CONDUIT INTO SAID SECOND CONTAINER UPON PIVOTING OF SAID SUPPORT SURFACE FROM THE HORIZONTAL; AND
 2. In an apparatus for automatically transferring a predetermined volume of inoculated culture into a sterile culture as recited in claim 1 wherein said pivoting means comprises: an electrical timer; a solenoid electrically coupled to said timer; a catch mechanically coupled to said solenoid, said catch being movable from a first to a second position, said first position being when said solenoid is not activated by said electrical timer and said second position being when said solenoid is activated by said electrical timer; said first end of said support surface being coupled to said catch when said catch is in said first position; said support surface being freely pivotable from its normal horizontal position when said catch is in said second position; and a weight disposed on said second end of said support surface, said weight being of sufficient mass to cause pivoting of said support surface from its normal horizontal position upon positioning of said catch in said second position by said solenoid.
 3. In an apparatus for automatically transferring a predetermined volume of inoculated culture into a sterile culture as recited in claim 2 further comprising: A pivot disposed in close proximity to the center of said pivoted support surface and extending across the width thereof; and a vertically extending spring, having two ends, said spring at one end being attached to said second end of said pivoted support surface and at the other end to an upright member, whereby upon pivoting of said support surface from the horizontal said weight slides off of said support surface causing said spring to return said support surface back to its normal horizontal position.
 4. In an apparatus for automatically transferring a predetermined volume of inoculated culture into a sterile culture as recited in claim 3 wherein the level of said inoculated culture in said first container is just below the lowest vertical point on the inside surface of said horizontally disposed conduit.
 5. In an apparatus for automatically transferring a predetermined volume of inoculated culture into a sterile culture as recited in claim 3 further comprising a stop disposed on said upright member for preventing said pivoted support surface from pivoting past a horizontal position upon displacement of said weight from said support surface.
 6. In an apparatus for automatically transferring a predetermined volume of inoculated culture into a sterile culture as recited in claim 2 comprising a horizontally disposed support rod connected between said first and second containers, said connection being below the vertical position of said horizontal conduit. 